What are raised garden beds? The "raised" part means the soil level in the bed is higher than the surrounding soil, and "bed" implies a size small enough to work without actually stepping onto the bed.

    A bed should be no wider than 4 feet, but length can be whatever suits the site or gardener's needs. Wider beds can be subdivided into sections accessible from planks or stepping stones.

    The bed does not have to be enclosed or framed, but if unframed, the use of power tillers is feasible. Framing offers several other opportunities, however; and a properly maintained bed will not need power cultivation.

    The benefits of raised-bed gardening include improved soil conditions; ease of working and pest control, and saving water. Soil compaction can reduce crop yields up to 50 percent. Water, air and roots all have difficulty moving through soil compressed by tractors, tillers or foot traffic.

    Raised beds also help in situations where compaction is not the only problem. Homeowners might have low spots unsuited for conventional gardens because of poor drainage or excessive erosion from runoff.

    There are few guidelines to remember in raised bed construction:

    Keep the beds narrow and match their length to the site and the watering system.

    A north-south orientation is best for low growing crops, allowing direct sunlight to both sides of the bed.

    Beds that contain taller crops such as pole beans, trellised peas or caged tomatoes might do better on an east-west axis. Thus, lower growing crops could be planted on the south side of the bed and still get full sun.

    Avoid the use of creosote or pentachlorophenol treated lumber for bed frames. These chemicals can leach out and injure plants. Use redwood, cedar, cement block or brick, or recycled plastic.

    The depth of the soil should be at least 6 inches. Fill the bed with top soil mixed with 2 to 3 inches of compost.

    什么是凸起的種植床？凸起的意思就是土壤的水平比周圍的土壤高。床就表示一個足夠小的地，不用踩進床上的地里。

    一個床以高不超過四.英尺，但是長度想多長都可以，可以根據主人的需要而定。較寬的可以用木板或者石頭分成幾部分。

    床不必是封閉的或者有框架的。如果是有框架的，使用動力播種機就很實用。框架提供了幾個其他優勢，然而保持床不用動力耕作是正常的。凸出的種植床的花園另一個好處是可以提高土壤的狀況，簡單操作，和對病蟲害的控制。土壤濃縮可以使莊稼減產百分之五十。水，空氣和根系都很難通過被拖拉機，播種機或者交通工具壓過的土壤。

    凸起的種植床也有助于土地壓縮不是僅有上的問題的環境。由于很差的灌溉設備或者是過度的侵蝕使家庭的主人或許有一些低洼的地方而不適和傳統的花園。

    有幾個在凸起種植床建造中需要記住的原則。

    使床的寬窄和他的所在地的灌溉系統相配。

    對于較低的植物來說，南北走向是最好的。可以讓陽光照在兩個方向。

    對于高桿植物，像大豆，需要架子的豌豆，或者需要像籠子一樣的架子的西紅柿。最好是東西走向的，這樣，更低的植物可以種在南邊，仍可以得到充足陽光。

    要避免使用咋酚等油漆過的木材做框架。這些化學物質可能破壞或者侵害植物。使用紅木，椿木或者水泥磚，或者可以回收的塑料都可以。